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HomeMy WebLinkAbout95-04037 c.. .1' c.:f ~ f:i qJ ::! -I 'j (.. a u , , ~ J I I I:. r- eg I , -::r " ,I I, "\.I~ I \1'orolll'"'~\'.lr EDWARD B. CARRA', I minor, Ind MARY CARRA', hi. mother Ind nltur.1 guardlln, Plllntl". IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLliAS OF CUMBERlAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA CIVIL ACTION - LAW DOCKET NO: 95-4037 CIVIL TF.RM v. CLARK B, HEFELF'NGER, JR" and SHIRLEY S, HEFFELFINGER, hla wlle, Delendant. JURY TRIAL DEMANDED BffL~j~_NEW_MAIIfR AND NOW, come Edward e. Carral, a minor, and Mary Carral, his mother and natural guardian, Plaintiff, and make the following reply to Defendants' New Malter: 23. Denied. On the contrary, minor-Plaintiff, Edward e. Caffal, was behaving In a normal and appropriate manner at the time ot the accident, in keeping with his age and maturity level. 24. Denied as a legal conclusion which requires no answer. By way of further reply, however, Plaintiff, Edward e. Carral, as a minor, could not reasonably ba expected to understand or assume risk ot Injuries from the glass In the door. 25. Denied. On the contrary, Answering Defendants, as landlords and owners 01 the premises where Plaintiff's Injury occurred, had the ability and responsibility to determine the safety of the glass and other materials on the premises, and could have substituted safer and more appropriate materials had they wished to. 26. On the contrary, after reasonable Investigation, Plaintiffs are without sufficient knowledge or Information as to the supposed Identity of the "other parties over whom Answering f 'II C o.Jl ,~, .~ ":'1 ~i '1;1,',1 n '11:\.\,1. ( I" ~~11 :,.~ 11 ' I ':r~I:r) I,/tll,' -..l '~ "t"" ;, t I ., ~,:, ""U ~,';\ ;'r . ~ ...... ~ ',-'~ ',' ') r:r ~I" J" ,'" ,'f 8 0'1 ~~ _., oW .... 4 :1~:1.1)4 .111 uwner~ uf II dwelling hou~c loclllcd III ~05 Arch Streel, Cllrli~le, Cumberlilnd CuunlY, Pcnnsylvllnln, 5, Al 1111 llme~ relevlIlIl hcrclu, Defendllnl~, Clllrk B. Heffelfinger, Jr.. IInd Shirley S, IIcffelflngcr. hl~ wife, hllve mnlrlllllncd the ~lIld dwelling hou~e loclllcd nt ~05 Arch Slrcel, Cllrli~le, Cumberlllnd County, P(~nn~ylvllnln, liS u rcnlt" pruperty which lhey leuse tu ulher persun~ fur rcsldentlul purposes. 6, Beginning In Fehruury, 11)93 IIIHI continuing unlll MIlY, 1994, Defendunls renled suld dwelling house under 1111 01'1I1 lense 10 PIlllnllff Mllry Cllrrul us II re~ldence for herself IInd for her ~un, Plillnllt'f Edwurd B. Curru!. 7, Pllllnllff Mury Cllrml pllid u monlhly renlill 10 Defendunls liS required by Ihe lerms of slIld 01'1I1 lellse. 8, Defendllnls were IIwure Ihlll Plithlllff, Edwurd B. Cnrrui, resided In ~lIid premises, nnd lhul he WitS II minor child, 9. Dcfendllnls, In Ihe course of Ihelr business liS IUndlord~ Ilnd lessors of suld premises, performed mulnlenllncl~ IInd vurious repulrs to the properly, nlld Ihey were flllllillar wilh lIS condillon, fixlures, und genei'll I c1rcums!Hnces. 10, A glllss slorm door wus affixed 10 said premises III lhe exit from the dwelling house 10 Ihe oUlside of Ihe house, 11, Pllllnllffs believe und lherefore liver Ihal sllld slorm door was Inslalled on Ihe premises by Defendanls. or III lhelr direction, afler Ihe yellr 1971 bUI prior 10 Pebruary, 1993, when Plalnliffs moved Inlo Ihe property. 12, Said slorm door wus conSlrucled of melal and glass, and the glass WIIS regull,r window glllss and not slIfely glll1.lng mlllerlll!. 2 4 :In 1. '/4 .111 13, DcfclldulIl~ kIlCW, or Nhouhl huvc kllOWII, Ihul thc /:!IUNN III Ihe ~ulll door WUN rcgulur wllldow glUNS und lIot surcty ghll.illll lllulcrlul: lllld furlhcr, lhllt thc lIullm: und ljuullly of Nuld IlIUSN would nol be reudlly Ilppurcnl through ordlnury llhservullon. 14, Dcfclldunls kllCW, or should huvc kllOWII, Ihul the 1I1uss III thc ~uld door WIIN likely 10 Nhullcr UpOIl UII Impllct und hrcuk 11110 plece~ with NllIlrp l~dgl:s which hud thc propclINlty to IlIfllct NCrlOU~ IIIJurle~ to UIlYOIIC comln/:! 11110 COlllllct with lhcm. I~, DcfclldulIlS knew, or should hllVC kIlOWII, thut the Illu~~ In the ~uld door WIIS III such II POSllloll, IIcur the IUICh Jl1eclUIIII~m 011 Ihe door, Ihul pcr~ons clllcrlllll or cxltlllg thc prcl11lscs would likely COllluct ~uld 1I1uss whclI opcnlllll or closillg thc door. 16, DcfclldlllltS did 1101 illform Plulllllrfs tlull Ihc glu~~ III ~l1ld door WllS wllldow gluss l\JId nol sufcty glu1.illg 11111lcrll1I, 1101' did Ihey Wl1rn Plulntlffs of thc posslhlllty or scrlous IIIJury If sllld glus~ were 10 be broke II by COlllllct wllh It. 17, 011 or uboul Au/:!ust 2, 1993, Plulllllrf Edwurd n, Cl1rml, Ihell l1 few duy~ ulldcr Ihc llge of tCII (10) YCl1rs, while l1ttemptillg 10 exll Ihe prel11lse~ by pushlllg open ~llid storm door, reuchcd for Ihe hnndle 10 ~l1id door bUI Inlldvenenlly missed thl~ hundle llnd contl1cted the ghlss in ~llld door wilh his rlght hl1nd, lB. When Plulnliff Edwurd n. Curral's right hund louched sl1ld gll1sS In thc slorm door, II ~hllllercd llnd his hllnd llnd lIrm pns~ed through 10 Ihe shouldcr, cuuslng him 10 su~tllln thc severe und pcrmuncnl injuries liS herclnuflcr dcscrlbcd, 19, Thc lIforcsuid Incldcnt lInd lhc InJurics rcsultlng 10 Plnlntlff Edwurd Jl, Cllrml, occurrcd solcly llS II rcsult of the negligence, cUfelessncss llnd rccklessncss of thc Dcfcndunls, who werc the owners of Ihe prcmises llnd rcsponslble for Its ml1lntcnunce, which 3 " ,', , I 1,1 . . " , I I IJ/N 0l'I'IClIII 01' HARRINOTON. KAUPJ'lMAN .t SHlLLINO 1110 PI.. StIotl, lIIlllI )00 IlIrJlibllrJ, ... 11101 I I I , I' I. , I;. , ,I I , " ,I iJ " ,I ',I , , .. , I , I ~I "{ :h d' 'S: " I (J' " , ~ I " j : " .. . ~ " If, Admlllod, 5, Admhlod, 6. Admlllod. 7, Admlllod. 8. Admllled. 9. Admitted In part. Denied In plll1. It Is admllled only thatth. Defendants were I1unIIlIU' with the condition oflhe prollerty In queatlon and Ita gelleral clrcumatll1cea. Th. remalnlnlllvemlenta of 1)lragraph 9 orlhe Complalnl are sJlecllkally denied. 10. Admitted. II. Denied. 12. Admllled In part. Denied III part. It Is Idmltted only that the slonn door WM conatNcled of metal Ind glm. As to the remaining avemlents of Paragraph 12 of the Complaint, Anawerillll Defendl/lta lU'e without sulnclent knowledge or Inronnation 10 fonn I belief u to the tNth or accuracy orthe remaining avennenls of Par awl ph 12 of the Complwnl, and accordingly, aald Ivennents lU'e denied. 13. Denied. 14. Denied. 15. DenIed. 16. DenIed lnumuch u Defendants had no duty. 17. After reuonable Investigation, Answering Defendll1ls are without sufficient know1edse or infonnation to fonn a belief u to the tNth or accuracy of Paragraph 17 of the Complaint, and accordingly, lllid averrnenls are denied. Strict proofthereofla demanded Itth. time of trial, 1 B, After realOnablo hlVelllllltlon, Anlwenllll DerendaJll1 arc wllhoUllUfficlcnl knowledil or Inromllllon 10 limn l belloI' a. 10 Ihe lrulh or accura.cy or PlIlllII'aph 1 B or Ihe Complalnl, and w:ordlnllly, IIIld avermenll arc dCllled. SlnCI proorlhereorlB demaJlded Illho limo oflnll. 19, (1)-(1) Denied. 20. Aft\lr reuonablclnvelllllltlon, Anlwerinll DerendaJllllTC wllhoullUfficlent knowledgc or Inronlllllon 10 ronn R belieI'II 10 Ihe lrulh or accuracy or Ihc avemlenll or Paragrlph 20 orlhe Complalnl, and accordingly, IBid avermenll arc denied. Slrict prooflhoreof I. demanded Illhe tlmo oftnll. 21. After reasonable Inveltlllllloll, Alllwerinll Dcnmdanll are without sufficient knowledge or Inronnallon 10 ronn a belief II to Ihe lrulh or accuracy or Ihe avennenll of Paragrlph 21 of the Complainl, and accordlnllly, said avennentl are denied. Slrict prooflhereof i. delJllllded lIthe lime of trial. 22. After reaaonable Invelllgallon, Anlwerillll Derendanll are wilhout sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief II to Ihe lruth or accuracy orlhe averment I of Paragraph 22 oflhe Complalnl, and accordingly, IBid avermenll are denied. Slnct proof thereof i. demanded II the lime of trill. WHEREFORE. 1M OIlrendanll, Clark B. He!felllnger, Jr. and Shirley S. He!felllnger, hi. wife, demand judgment In their flvor and agalnlllhe Plalnllffl wilh COlt. Nt:W M~'I'I'EI\ 23, The acc:ldenl complained 01' In the ComplBlnt ofthe Illalntlm WBl caulled or conlribuled 10 by Ihe nel\llllence, carelenness and recklessness of the mlnor-11Ialnlllf. Edward B, eaITaI, 24. The IllalnlUf, Edward Ii CurBl, mumed the risk of his IICtivitlel and of Injury aa a relUlt Ihereof. 25. If the minor-Plaintiff sullered Injuries Bnd dlllllBlles BB described Bnd for reBlIOnSllC1 forth in lhe ComplBlnt, said Injuries Bnd domRlles were caused or contributed to conditions \')ver which the Answerinll Defendants had no control Bnd for which they are not responsible. 26, If the mlnor.Plaintill'lIUlfered injuries and damRges as described and for reallOnlllCt forth in lhe Complaint, said Injuries Bnd dBmages were caused and are contributed to by the negligence, carelenness Bnd recklessnen of other pBrtles over whom Answering Defendants had no conlrol and fC)r whom they are not responsible. 27, Iflhe mlnor-PlalntlffllUffered Injuries and damages IICt forth In the Complaint, said Injuriea and dll1\l8es were not prollimately caused by any negligent act or adminion on behalf of the Answering Defendant, 28. If the mlnor-PlalntiffllUffered Injuries and damBges BS IICt forth In the Complaint, said injuries and damages may have been caused by the ncgllgent acts or omissions of other Individuals or entitles which constituted the prollimate or IIUpersedinll C&UIIC of said Injuries and damagea, 29. The Safety Glazlnll Materials Act of 1991, 3S PS Section 5814 Is not applicable to residential homes. ') U.) '.1 ..j ~11 r... I (I.'r " 'II , '/I rl j I ,,1,/ , I /J.! ." , I /,,1 ~.,.! " I . . 1:1 1.;: ..., ita ,P. ~.) I ." I. " ("f :" .. '.. ,'.' f.J (0 "lQ. F U~ ';1 ....... 'r\ h Pi " ~ :1 It::. l*::. 0 o ql ..... "~i ~:. . - C' 'ill,. o. ~ "'-:'r ., ~ ~., .'1 ,~,.. ,F: I ::t ~ U 5"',' r p: ,~ ~ .. ~~ g;> :;,! I,,) ~ ''l -...t:. \ J P u") 1:;1 to';. I,I) ""n , '. J l'ill ..t I,j'r;} I',. I I ' ''-) , ;lr; , ' I I II,:." 'rll f:'; \" ,'~ ""f I' "-;"-1 ,,' ' 'j" :. ., ~ .-} . , I' 'f ,. -1.'" - ;r .. ;J :'-.1 1'.., ,., o:J ~ q '~':l q r~, ' ) ....'I' ~; '.. I 0111' , . ,.:. 'Cl ,t',.l ''[ ,1:(' 'll~ ;g i!.' ';Ji tl, HI') j,~ '.. 'I 1~ r; . r . . " ; .., if ... ~!' -. , .. ':'1 N -, Ol ~ .....- - ..~ - '.,. ," ,,' 'I' , /,/ '" ," (1 t,I'. r', ",if: "oJl) '/ I t-:f .., "d, I ! If t ~ . il~ "... , , ,'>) '/1 Lit , I:JI " 'I " :!sj ~ -~ ,n" , ii"! .' , ,.. 1" I ;"fr .", ~. .;1 I .. r:, r.) c, '., -. ." , r- Nt. ...~~:~~.3.t.~~Y.~~.2~~~.)II.... :/ '" '1';1 1.,1 I: :!1 i I Ii ,I , , ( 'I "I" " ',; " ,I I I :',) , . , .................................... .,) 'Ill' } 'i I ' t I ~ ,! ',\ "ljl ;I' ',1' i.' .. Clark a. Heffelfinger Jr. Shirley S. Heffelfinger, and his wife , I t' , ' Edward B. Carrai, a minor, and MISty Carrai, his Illother and natural guardian I, ,,, . 1!ll' .,', " I. " .......-...~..........-........_._-- 1,.1 " , ,,' .. SUDlIJIOQI In " I " " Jl ....__.~.i~!!_~~!~_Jt!~_____~~NW. " , Roger M. Morgenthal 11 East High street Carlisle I PA 17013 717-243-5513 ,I 1'1 , II' 'III , , ,1 , , ' , -.._-----_...."_......~..--.......~. Attonlll)' ,It.l.I"I'I.~~H".......",h""".' I-E..urr/.t'....,-'.,. .......1. ...1 ",.- ....,-;~..-...-.. I! I \ ;1 \, ~' lk.>' i i I , ' , " ....-. .1' .'''~ { i iill::,~ ~ ,~~ g, If ...~ g; I ~~!i i' ~ [ [ i S' n It ~~, h ~~ [,~, i Hl . \5' e III .'~ ~I' ~~ ~~ ~ [ \ , ~ ~ p, ~ r r , if!! , I , , ",I rr I'I' C" , , "I. ! f.' 7nr .1,/ I.,r , ',',Iv " ~ ,~ r.~lr ...) ~;o:'" (~ , ~ ~ wi R. ~i HI ~ ~ (7, ~~rtlE ~ I ~ 1>> ~ 1>> ~ ~. ~f I ~ ~, .~ I t;;~,& i ..... tn ' ~ ~ [.' ~~ ~ i S' U Ii f [[ ~[ ~ ! 1 " , ;'11 (,'1 'I!,. I Ii,' 7nr ,. '. t, i, ; I . '.',0 [If G1 '::~ c..) " N " ", 'I , .' ~:C . , ~ ~ LAW OFFICES OF HARlUNG1'ON, KAUFFMAN A SIIILLING ATI'ORNEYI C. WIIII.m Shlllln. SUPREME COUR11.D. NO,1 469911 100 PINE STREET. SUITE 300 IIARRISDUllG, PA 17101 (717) 710-0700 A'n'ORNEY FORI Der.lIdl..1I EOW ARD 8, CAIlRAI. I minor, and MARY CAllRAI, hlslllolhcr IlId natural guardlBll, PlahllUTs IN THE COURT Of COMMON PLEAS Of CUMlmlU-AND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA VI. CLARK 8, HEFFELFINGER, JR, BlId: DOCKET NO, 95.4037 CivU Tenn SHIRLEY S, HEFFELFINGER, his wife, CIVIL ACTION. LAW DefendBllts CEIUIFICATE 011 St:IWICE AND NOW, this 11~+.J. day of (J),)/"u..c- , 1995, I, C. William Shilling, Esquire, Ittorney for DefendBllts affirm lhatlaerved the Exccuted Praecipe for Issuance of Rule to File Complaint by depollldng same In the United States Mall, postage prepaid, in Harrisburg. Pennsylvania, addressed to: Roger M, Morgenthol FLOWER, MORGENTHAL, FLOWER & LINDSAY I I Eut High Street Carlisle. PA 17013.3016 C, Uliam Shilling re Supreme Cou "No,: 46995 Attorney for efendBllts fT,"J -, '. , r;:i ", 0 ,:; ,. ~ " . "